Products & Ideas...

What’s the first item you think of when you picture a bridal registry? For me, it's the KitchenAid stand mixer (so the Kitchen Aid marketing and promotions department is doing a good job).

I imagine most people register for that appliance for that very reason. But I'd venture to guess that a large percentage of people who register for it don't bake from scratch anymore. So here’s a simple test to see if you need to register for a stand mixer: when was the last time you needed one? If you answered “Never” or “What’s a stand mixer even for?” then you don’t need to register for one. Ditto for any other kitchen appliance, no matter how sleek and shiny with chrome or stainless steel they may be, or what pretty colors they may come in.

But if you do bake or make homemade pasta or waffles or use other specialized kitchen appliances, Sprig recently reported that Hamilton Beach (which also makes Proctor Silex products) has begun to green their industry. In an effort to reduce their carbon footprint, they've adopted the Restrictoins of Hazardous Substances Directive (ROHSD), using less packaging and recyclable materials, and designing more energy-efficient appliances. The new standards haven't been applied to all of their products yet, so call 800-851-8900 for specifics.

image: Hamilton Beach